A communiqué has been released following the Triad meetings held by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and the World Health Organization (WHO), 16-19 May, in advance of the World Health Assembly. Highlighting the key role of the nursing and midwifery workforce in achieving universal health coverage and strong economies, Government chief nursing and midwifery officers (GCNMOs), leaders and representatives of national nursing and midwifery associations, regulators and the three organisations committed to several actions to:

• increase recognition of nurses’ and midwives’ roles in strengthening PHC and progressing towards UHC and the SDGs;

• promote productive work, fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families;

• advocate for an enabling practice environment;

• call for the protection of midwives and nurses and other health personnel;

• increase the participation of midwives and nurses in formulating solutions to local problems of national and international significance;

• support the continuous implementation of the Global Strategic Directions for Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery 2016-2020.

Held every two years, the Triad meeting focused on topics such as Building nursing and midwifery capacity to achieve universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals; Labour market dynamics and education policies in investing in the nursing and midwifery workforce; Optimizing performance, quality and impact of the nursing and midwifery workforce through evidence-informed policies; Strengthening nursing and midwifery data for monitoring and ensuring accountability for the implementation of national and regional strategies; and Strengthening nursing and midwifery through collaboration and partnerships.

Triad participants also highlighted that longstanding and growing challenges facing the health workforce, including nursing and midwifery, need to be addressed in order to achieve the SDGs, UHC and strengthen PHC.